“Hunny, Can I sleep here tonight?” Taylor asked looking up at Abby.
“Why would you even ask? You never asked before.” She said laughing.
Taylor lay sprawled across the couch, his head resting on Abby's lap as she played with his hair. Myra and Belle had left only an hour before.
“Hmm. I don’t know why I’d think to ask now. I never asked you before?” He questioned.
“Nope. You probably didn’t feel you needed too.” Abby smiled as she flipped a looks bit of hair out of his eyes.
“Oh yeah? Why would I think that?” He laughed.
“Cause you knew you were welcome anytime. You knew I would be cold in the middle of the night, and you knew I loved it when you’d get off the couch and come into my bedroom just to keep me warm. I love waking up next to you, Taylor. I never thought it necessary for you to ask, so why would you?” Abby asked smiling.
“I don’t know. It’s just weird to know I wasn’t that polite to even think of asking.” Taylor sighed as he thought how rude of him. He wasn’t taught to be like that.
“So.. your upset you spent so many nights with me here when I wanted and needed you?” Abby asked as she lay her hand over his cheek to guide his head towards her eyes, so that he would be looking right at her.
Taylor was quiet for a second. Then he spoke.
“Was there ever a time in the past few months that you didn’t want me here? That you just wanted to be alone, by yourself?” Taylor’s eyes looked worried and upset.
Abby’s brow wrinkled.
“No. Because I’m in love with the man I wanted to marry and I wouldn’t know what else to do with my time then spend it with you. So why would you even ask?” A tear came to Abby’s eyes when she finished her last word. Her voice crack as she looked down at Taylor’s face.
“I love you SO much Taylor, that it hurts. So, never.. for ONE second think I never wanted you around.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry..” He said lifting his head up and kissing a tear running down her cheek.
“Yeah, I’m just a sap! Ignore me.” Abby laughed.
“Nah, Your my strong, beautiful fiancé.” Taylor smiled.
Once again their lips met.

**************

“Ike, do you regret this?” Nora asked as she lay next to Isaac on her bed.
“No, do you?” He asked as he turned to look at her.
“Yes and No.” She replied. After she saw the look on Isaac’s face she explained herself. “Yes, because I don’t want to make any mistakes. And No, because I love you and I want to be as close to you as humanly possible.”
“What do you mean by any mistakes?” Isaac looked worried.
“I just don’t want.. you know. I want to finish college before I get married and start a family.”
“Nora, baby.. you have nothing to worry about. I’m not leaving you ANY time soon. Your stuck with me. Sorry.” Isaac said as he grabbed her stomach and started tickling her.
“Ahhh! Ike! Stop!” she laughed. He quit, then she began talking again. “You better not leave me, I might just have to kill you.”
“You know I wouldn’t.”
“Just how would I know that?” Nora asked smiling.
Isaac lay there for a minute. Then a smile spread across his face.
“Well. I’ve been meaning to give something to you for a couple weeks now. I guess now is the best time then any.” He said as he rolled to the side of the bed and bent down to grab his boxers. He quickly slipped them on and left the room for a minute.
Nora lay, still sprawled out on her side of the bed.
Isaac rummaged through his book bag and grabbed what he was looking for.
He held it in his hand and closed his eyes. “He goes.” He whispered.
Ike turned and walked back into the bedroom.
“Here.” He handed Nora the small square present. It was wrapped in silver paper and had a little black ribbon tied around it.
Nora gave him a curious look as she sat up and pulled the two little strings which made the ribbon fall to the bed. She gently open the wrapped and open the small golden box.
“This is how much I love you, Nora. This is my promise that I will never leave you. Not until you want to get rid of me.” Isaac said as he took the small ring from the box. “This is a promise ring. You wear it. You got me.”
“Isaac. It’s so..”
“Shhh. It’s just like you. Beautiful.”

*************

“Hey faggot!” Dillon yelled from across the high school lawn.
Zac sighed. “Here we go..” he mumbled as he turned to face the other senior.
“What do you want Dillon?” He asked in an annoyed tone.
“Just wanted to know if I can take your girl out for a little ride.” Dillon smirked as he pointed to the new jaguar his Father had bought him. The rest of the guys following Dillon laughed and snickered.
“In your dreams fella’s.” Zac gave a big grin and turned to walk away.
“You could NEVER do to her what I could Zac! Even if you stuck a fucking-” His sentence was cut short.
“Dillon! Get out of here!” Kari yelled from behind him.
“Sorry baby. Just chatting with your little boyfriend.” Dillon said in a girlie voice.
“Your immaturity amazes me.” Kari rolled her eyes. “Now leave.” She said once again.
“Yeah, yeah.. Oh, and Zac. I’ll talk to you later.” He winked and headed towards the opposite parking lot.
“Fucking moron!” Zac said after Dillon was quite a ways out of ear shot.
“Tell me about it.” Kari agreed as she took Zac’s hand and continued walking towards her car.
“I would love to beat the shit out of him."
“No, that would mean your just stuping to his level. And your too good for that.” Kari stopped beside her car and looked at Zac.
“I know. But he needs to be taught a lesson!” Zac argued his point.
“One day he will. But not by you. It will be someone who will have an impression on him, and make him realise just how immature he is.”
Zac open the drivers side door to let her in. “I’ll call you later, okay.” He said as he leaned in to kiss her.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” Kari asked.
“I have to run home before the landscapers get there. Mom’s at work all day so I gatta get back.” Zac explained.
“Okay baby. Call me.” She reached up and kissed him once more. With that, Kari started her engine and pulled away.

Zac stood there till Kari’s car disappeared out of the school parking lot and around the corner. He turned and looked towards Dillon. He was pissed off. He HATED it when Dillon said shit like that in front of Kari. It made him feel like crap. Like he wasn’t protecting her from the things he said. Zac was going to put this to an end.
He started quickly across the parking lot. His fists closed tight. Dillon was standing there leaning against his car yapping on to his friends about, ‘What girl her screwed the night before, and how awful she was in bed. His worst yet’.
Zac approached them and planted himself directly in front of Dillon’s face.
“Zac! You came back to tell me I can take Kari after all, eh?” Dillon smiled.
“Don’t you ever try to make comments like that again in front of Kari. How could you be so ignorant!” Zac yelled from behind clenched teeth.
Dillon snickered. He looked around his group of friends as if to make a mockery of Zac. “Exactly what are you going to do about it if I don’t?” He laughed.
Zac couldn’t take it anymore he threw back his hand and flung it with all his might at Dillon’s face. The impact sent Dillon down to the ground in shock.
“Don’t you EVER fuck with me!” Zac leaned down and whispered into Dillon’s ear. Dillon wiped the blood away from him mouth.
Everyone was quiet. Nobody said a word as Zac walked to his car and got in.
He couldn’t wiped the smirk off his face the whole way home. Though his hand hurt like hell, and the bruises were evident. Zac felt good. He finally put that bastard in his place. And nobody could have done a thing to stop him. Nobody.